Judge Eric Fleming today granted a motion by Keonte Gathron, convicted killer of 88-year old Chinese immigrant Yik Oi Huang, for a court-appointed attorney to represent him in further proceedings. While Fleming was prepared to sentence Gathron in late November, today’s ruling will keep Gathron out of prison but in jail for almost the entirety of 2026.
Gathron, who waived his right to an attorney and represented himself at trial, was convicted by a jury and faces two life sentences plus 31 years imprisonment. In addition to Grandma Huang’s murder, Gathron was convicted of multiple carjacking, kidnapping, assault, burglary, and robbery charges. In granting the motion, Fleming acknowledged the pain to be felt by family and victims by delaying further proceedings.
Judge Fleming ruled that four of the five factors he is required to consider when a defendant seeks to withdraw an earlier waiver of the right to an attorney weighed in favor of granting the motion. He found that Gathron did not have a history of hiring or firing attorneys to cause delay and that, while Gathron appeared fully capable to make his defense at trial by calling witnesses and making motions, the remainder of the process now focuses on legal issues that he does not appear to be able to handle. Judge Fleming noted a distinct change in demeanor and preparation in Gathron following the conviction. Based on these and related factors, Judge Fleming ruled that Gathron was entitled to have Deputy Public Defender Elizabeth Camacho now serve as his counsel.
The path forward is long and complicated. Gathron’s new counsel needs time to learn what happened at trial and identify potential legal violations. This requires preparing a court transcript of the proceedings, which will not be available for six to eight months because the official court reporter is on medical leave. Review of the transcript will likely trigger the need for investigation and research on factual and legal issues, causing further delays.
Judge Fleming fully discussed the emotional impact delay will have on the victims and their families, who, he stated, had been dealing with this for almost a decade. Nonetheless, and without objection from the district attorney, he concluded that the defendant met the legal requirements to be granted his request for an attorney.
Fleming also pointed out that all defendants are entitled to participate in sentencing proceedings and move for a new trial after conviction. Granting Gathron’s motion to appoint an attorney for him will cause a delay but strengthen the foundation of any outcome that is challenged on appeal. Fleming stated he would keep future proceedings to a “tight schedule” and ordered the attorneys and Gathron back to his court for a status update on Thursday, March 5.
This Thursday marks the seventh anniversary of the beginning of the Gathron crime spree for which he was found guilty. Grandma Huang died from her injuries a year later. Closure of the legal process is still not here.